By Miriam Raftery

An ECM exclusive special report

"I think the organization is finished. It can't run by committee, which is what's being proposed." -- Mike Cully, former Chief Executive Officer

March 5, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) Updated 3:30 p.m. – Last week, ECM reported that the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce let go its Chief Executive Officer, Scott Alevy, and terminated the position amid dwindling financial resources.

Now Mike Cully,  former CEO of the Chamber who was fired in September 2010,  reveals that he recently won a lawsuit against the Chamber over his termination. “I feel comfortable talking about this now," said Cully, who has not spoken publicly about the issues until now.

Moreover, Cully reveals a troubled financial history at the organization he once ran. “The problems with the Chamber preceded my arrival,” he told ECM in an e-mail response requesting his comments on the Chamber's current issues. “When I was interviewing, I requested, but never got—a full download of their financial status. And for good reason, in retrospect.”

March 1, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – It wasn’t a Valentine that the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted on February 14 to deliver to CEO Scott Alevy.  Facing a budget crunch, the inland region’s largest Chamber voted to eliminate its full-time paid CEO position, relieving Alevy of his duties.

“Both Scott Alevy and the Chamber are on soild ground,” acting President and Chief Executive Officer Becky Burgstiner told Chamber members at a First Friday breakfast this morning in the La Mesa Community Center. 

She announced that Board Chairman Marcel Becker will be taking the leadership helm as soon as he is fully recovered from surgery  in a couple of weeks.  Becker is also Chair of JCI Metals in Lemon Grove.

October 4, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – Cliff Diamond, former El Cajon Police Chief, has been named interim president and chief executive officer of the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce. He will replace Mike Cully, whose departure was announced in late September.

“Democrats' idea of increasing taxes delays REAL budgetary reforms and stalls true economic recovery in State.”

By Mike Cully
President/CEO, San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce

August 19, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) -- It is disappointing that the Democratic Legislative Leaders continue to delay California’s economic recovery by increasing taxes and delaying serious budgetary reforms.

 
LOCAL LEADERS REACT TO DECISION WITH SHOCK & AWE

July 13, 2010 (San Diego’s East County) – The last 19-mile link of SDG&E’s controversial Sunrise Powerlink transmission line project has been approved by Cleveland National Forest director William Metz, the Union-Tribune reports.
 

“We are not surprised by Metz’s decision, although we are disappointed,” Laura Cyphert, cofounder of the East County Community Action Coalition (ECCAC), an organization representing 79,000 people opposed to Powerlink, told East County Magazine. “Metz was under considerable political pressure. Fortunately we have anticipated this day, and are prepared to take every necessary legal action…Over a year ago, the legwork was started for a lawsuit against the Forest Service in the event that they permitted this project. We are well positioned to prevail in the court room.” 

By Mike Cully

January 16, 2010 (San Diego's East County) -- It’s the beginning of a new year and California’s economic hardships haven’t changed.

We face a 12 percent unemployment rate – one of the highest in the country – and a $20 billion deficit. Overtaxed and overregulated, companies are closing their doors and moving to neighboring states with lower costs to do business, and discouraged workers are leaving town in order to make a living.

I am concerned about the future of California. That’s why I am supporting Meg Whitman to be California’s Republican nominee for governor.

By Miriam Raftery

February 12, 2009 (Washington, DC) Today, Rep. Bob Filner (D-San Diego) announced that he has joined with 20 other Democratic members of Congress to form the Populist Caucus, the only caucus in Congress devoted solely to addressing middle class economic issues.